Filligar isn’t a rock band getting a ton of press. In some ways, that’s unavoidable—not just for them, but for plenty of groups. Like the Greek pantheon of gods, certain bands and artists have taken precedence even though others are just as capable of power and finesse. The Olympian hierarchy of indie rock may be justified or may not be but, regardless, the Muses must be smiling on Filligar. Hexagon rocks and rolls, even though it probably won’t break any new ground with the press or their popularity in general.
The first (and only, at least for a long time) track I ever heard by Filligar was 2007’s “The Observatory.” It sounded sort of like The Flaming Lips, and I definitely took to it right away. For whatever reason, it didn’t cause me to further explore their catalog. What surprised me upon listening to Hexagon is that Filligar has developed into far more of a rock band than I ever could’ve predicted. Wayne Coyne’s spirit has been supplanted by Jeff Tweedy’s guiding influence, and they’re all the better for it.
Shades of Wilco really do color the entire record. The guitars interplay and echo like the stripes on an American flag raised after 9/11. It’s not Allman Brothers Americana; it’s that echo-driven, up-to-date guitar sound built and bred in the fragmented and confused U.S. of today. Each song sounds like a fun-loving plea scratched up occasionally by melancholy. Filligar’s Hexagon isn’t going to make any headlines, but as far as your headphones are concerned, there are plenty of reasons to take a listen. It’s a fun time, no doubt about it.